Montreal Canadiens look to fill Bell Centre with energy in a must-win Game 3
Photo credit: Billets.ca
After dropping the first two games of their first-round series against the Washington Capitals, the Montreal Canadiens will be taking on home-ice energy to help turn the tide.
Game 3 will be the team's first Stanley Cup Playoff game in a full Bell Centre since 2017 with a full Bell Centr
«There's nothing like playing at home, especially at the Bell Centre, with our fans, in the playoffs,» Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said before the team returned to Montreal on Thursday. «I think it will be exactly what we need.»
The Montreal Canadiens pushed late in both road games by forcing overtime in Game 1 and outshooting Washington 14-5 in the third period of Game 2, but they sill they came up short and lost 3-1 on Wednesday.
The Habs have scored just three goals in two games which is one each from Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Christian Dvorak and they need more offense and better defending to compete with the Washington Capitals.
Martin St. Louis knows that even with the crowd on their side, some tactical tweaks are needed and having the last change at home will allow him to free up his top line of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky from difficult matchups.
Patrik Laine who was benched in the third period of Game 2 remains a question mark and Martin St. Louis wouldn't single him out and is instead calling for a collective improvement.
"I'm repeating myself, but it's everyone. Not one guy or two guys, it's everyone," St. Louis said. "Collectively, can we stretch it to our end a bit more? And it definitely starts with the individuals."
Sam Montembeault has kept Montreal in both games by having a .921 save percentage, but the Habs have been beaten 23-8 in high-danger opportunities.
Game 3 is set for Friday at 7 p.m. ET, with the Bell Centre expected to be electric.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 25 | 69 ANSWERS Montreal Canadiens look to fill Bell Centre with energy in a must-win Game 3 Who do you think will win Game 3 against the Montreal Canadiens and the Washington Capitals? | ||
| Montreal Canadiens | 46 | 66.7 % |
| Washington Capitals | 23 | 33.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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